Points 140, 142, 158, 176 and 214 in the category of MODALITY are used for PAST POSSIBILITY, SPECULATION, REGRET, CRITICISM. On the Left, iWeb corpus gives us the following past participles: 1 COULD HAVE BEEN 178902 On the right further collocations, 4 to the left and right are from COCA corpus: 1 WORSE (JJR ) […]
Category: modality
should be verb-ING
Points 164 and 177 in Modality either are used for obligation or expectation. A search for should be _v?g* in the iWeb corpus finds the following present participles: 1 SHOULD BE DOING 24974 Further collocates 4 left and right: 1 WHAT (DDQ ) 7756 2 SOMETHING (PN1 ) 1554 3 THINGS (NN2 ) 1303 […]
It is important that noun verb
If you are teaching a pre-intermediate class about how we get our knowledge or health, then this grammar and vocabulary will be appropriate.
It is adjective for object to infinitive
What vocabulary should you teach or learn with modality and adjectives at a pre-intermediate level?
degree adverbs modifying adjectives
Point 210 in MODALITY on the English Grammar Profile is based on MODIFYING an ADJECTIVE for HEDGING with a degree adverb. We are offered only two examples: Collocates 4 sides to the left and right on iWeb corpus for “quite probable“: 1 IT (PPH1 ) 528 2 SEEMS (VVZ ) 31 3 POSSIBLE (JJ […]
I dare say
Point 206 in Modality, in the English Grammar Profile, is used to say that something is probably true. Looking at 4 spaces to the right of the expression on iWeb corpus we find the following collocates which point to the fact the expression is often used with more modality. Two of those are contractions of […]
didn’t dare
In the EGP, Point 223 in the category of modality is used to talk about not being brave enough to do something. It seems an unusual piece of grammar in that it is an infinitive next to another infinitive without “to”. It also is surrounded usually by verbs of speech. Collocates 5 to the left […]
shall
The featured image above shows the multiple proficiency levels that this modal verb is associated with the English Grammar Profile. The very formal nature of this modal verb can be easily seen with a search for collates 5 sides left and right of “shall” in the NOW corpus: 1 BE (VBI ) 211652 2 LAW […]
Must questions
This is a place holder for duplicate entries in the EGP. Both entries use the same example sentences too. There is little difference except that the use is added to the second. 147 MODALITY must B2 QUESTION form. 161 MODALITY must B2 USE: to ask about obligation and necessity.
‘must’ with a wide range of adverbs
These are the 12 adverbs I would teach with “must” to advanced students: correctly, either, generally, somehow, therefore, constantly, currently, necessarily, simply, successfully, surely, satisfactorily, ultimately.